Abstract

This study examined the influence of Big Five personality traits on work performance among non-academic staff of selected public polytechnics in Benue State, Nigeria. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design. The population comprised 472 non-academic staff from Federal Polytechnic, Wannune; Akperan Orshi Polytechnic, Yandev; and Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo. A sample of 216 respondents was selected using stratified random sampling. Data were collected using the 44-item Big Five Inventory (BFI-44) and the Individual Work Performance Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize respondents’ characteristics, while simple linear regression and standard multiple regression were employed to test the hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that the composite measure of the Big Five personality traits significantly and positively predicted work performance (R = .620, R² = .384, F(1, 214) = 133.50, p < .001), explaining 38.4% of the variance in work performance. Furthermore, the five personality traits jointly significantly predicted work performance (R = .700, R² = .490, F(5, 210) = 40.35, p < .001), accounting for 49.0% of the variance. Conscientiousness emerged as the strongest positive predictor (β = .420, p < .001), followed by extraversion (β = .180, p = .010) and openness to experience (β = .140, p = .031). Neuroticism had a significant negative influence (β = -.160, p = .029), whereas agreeableness did not make a statistically significant independent contribution (β = .090, p = .133). The study concludes that personality characteristics are important predictors of work performance among non-academic staff. It recommends that polytechnic management consider relevant personality characteristics, particularly conscientiousness, alongside qualifications and experience in staff recruitment, placement, training, and performance development.